Washington, April 17 (IANS): National Basketball Association (NBA) players will receive random blood tests for Human Growth Hormone (HGH) next season, the league and the Players Association have announced.
All players will be subjected to three random, unannounced tests annually including two during the season and one offseason, it was announced on Thursday, reports Xinhua.
The HGH testing will start during training camp next fall under the NBA's anti-drug programme, as part of the collective bargaining negotiations of 2011 between the league and the Players Association.
A player will be suspended for 20 games for a first violation and 45 for second. He will be dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for his third offence.